From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action


I can't believe it is Thursday already (it feels like only seven days
since the last one happened! ;-). But seriously, this week has just
whipped by. There had better be some good games waiting for us on Epic
to make up for this disturbingly fast passage of time!


[Narrator: There weren't.]


* Return to Ash
https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/return-to-ash-dee3ff
<sigh> A visual novel. I really can't judge these; I
have too little interest in the genre to want to play
them. The reviews are positive... but even a great
'visual novel' isn't something I'm that interested in
playing. This one has you playing a character in the
afterlife, if that makes it any more intriguing to you.
Me, I'm gonna pass.


* Stalcraft: X Starter Edition https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/stalcraft-x-stalcraft-x-starter-edition-0b06d4
Imagine "STALKER", except made as an free-to-play open-
world survival MMO that mixes in a bit of Minecraft-
style blockiness. The reviews are not kind, suggesting
this is a game that is grindy and slow,with lots of
bugs, forced PvP, lots of pay-to-win and necessary MTX
to have any sort of fun. And beyond all that, the
mechanics themselves --the gunplay, the questing, the
dialog, the crafting-- aren't satisfying. This sort of
game almost makes visual novels look appealing to me
in comparison!


[Narrator: Told ya!]


Well, the best thing I can say is that if the rate of time doesn't
slow, at least I won't have to wait that long for the next freebie.
It'll probably be, oh, about seven days I think. See you then!


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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action

Paragnosia
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3017580/Paragnosia/

rms
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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action

On Thu, 19 Feb 2026 09:25:18 -0700, "rms" <rmsmoo@moomoo.net> said
this thing:

Paragnosia
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3017580/Paragnosia/

"Observe every corner of your apartment by moving
your camera along a rail that runs through the rooms.
Find and take pictures of paranormal anomalies to
exorcise them. Locked in your surveillance room, will
you survive tonight's 8 rounds?"

So, it's a game that is one part "PT" (the Playstation demo that came
out a few years ago as a teaser for a new "Silent Hill" game), one
part "Exit 8 (for its 'find the anomalies' concept) and one part "Five
Nights at Freddy's" (because you view everything through a camera.
Maybe with a dash of 'escape room' gaming?

I can't say I totally dislike the idea of the game, but it very much
feels like a follow-the-leader, and just doesn't seem like it would
have the depth of gameplay to keep me entertained very long. If
anything, it seems tailor made for Twitch-screamers (sorry, streamers)
who get 'terrified' playing video games. In other words, a game
designed to promote itself rather than actually provide a fun time.

It's the sort of game I'd play for ten minutes and never look at
again.

On the other hand, it does bring The Number up a notch.

What to do, what to do, what to do? ;-)


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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action

rms wrote:

Paragnosia
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3017580/Paragnosia/

rms

Psygnosis had the best game of the century. What a powerful company in
the minds of children. Games that were as sparkly as Arkanoid &
fulfilling as Magic Sword or even Rastan if that's your manes.
--
pBkHHoOIIn8
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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action

On Thu, 19 Feb 2026 11:02:07 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> said this thing:

btw,

apologies for forgetting the [EPIC] tag at the end of the subject of
the original post to whomever it was that wanted an easy way to filter
out these threads. I'll have the person responsible tickled with a
large feather as punishment.

Of course, now that I added that tag to the end of this message, you
probably won't see this apology. ;-)

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